Athletes as models...of what?

Michael Phelp's recent travails in Animal House have been met with a surprising amount of sympathy. Many have been surprised by what a big deal some are making of the picture of Phelps with a "bong". Like Charles Barkley before him, some say Phelps (and by extention all athletes) are not role models. They say they have not signed on for the duty of guiding the next generation into the ways of civilized behavior. Both Charles and Michael may not "wish' to be role models, but I have news for them: THEY ALREADY ARE. Not wishing for something doesn't remove it from reality. They certainly don't want the responsibility of having their every action interpreted by the young and impressionable, but it is.

As a teacher of young children, I am accountable for everything I say and do in front of my students. However, even when I'm not teaching, I still would have to maintain a similar propriety if I happened to meet a student outside of school, when I'm not working. I may want to act differently, I may not wish to be a role model at that moment, but I have no choice. The mere fact that a young person is there, that they are watching,requires that I behave a certain way. To all those high profile celebrities out there, THEY ARE WATCHING. Whether you like it or not, you are being watched and emulated and studied. You have a responsibility to live up to the scrutiny, its part of your privledged life.

Whether it's Chase Utley with a microphone in front of him or Michael Phelps during Rush week, you may wish the world wasn't watching, but it's too late. Of course, you could always step off the merry-go-round, if the ride is making you sick.

Wanderings

I'm just finishing the book "The Man who Walked Through Time" by Colin Fletcher, which is an account of Fletcher's early 1960's walk through the length of the Grand Canyon.It is a beautiful and soul stirring retelling of Fletcher's months-long solo journey through a remote Grand Canyon that no longer exists.

Although a great read, what strikes me as I added this book to my personal library, is that I often choose to read and own books about such solitary wanderings. I seem drawn to the true stories of people who seek out a solitary existence for a length of time. I own and have read (usually more than once) "Walden" by Thoreau, "The Outermost House" by Henry Beston, "A Sand County Almanac" by Aldo Leopold and "A Pilgrim At Tinker Creek" by Annie Dillard. In addition to all being extremely well written and based on nature observations, they all celebrate, in one way or another, the wonders of solitary existence among the beauties of nature.

Why do these themes resonate with me? I was born in the city and reside in a suburb. Is there some yearning on my part to engage in such an activity? Is it perhaps symbolic of some deeper longing? Is it a desire to "escape" or be free? I don't know about my inner motivations, but I do know that these stories provide me with hours of enjoyment, a vicarious form of travel, and perhaps a glimpse into my future.

I think therefore....

Look to this space in the near future for my brief thoughts on such mundane things as nature, food, travel, education and lifestyle. But also look for more serious postings on philosophy, religion, art, cinema and the meaning of life. It's not partisan, but will talk of politics. It's not denominational, but will talk of religion. I'm not a scientist, but will talk about science. This will contain the musings of a seeker, but not necessarily a finder. Other seekers wanted.

"Not all who wander are lost"